Week #23 - Camping Out - Beach Style

I took the kids camping this week - to the beach - without Adam, but with my sister and her family and my sister-in-law and her family. We looked like a polygamist family I swear. There were 3 women, 10 kids and 1 man (my sister's husband). It was pretty hilarious to watch from the outside.

I was really anxious about doing this, even with the tremendous help that I had. Because, let's face it, even with help, there's usually not a good enough substitute for mom. As it turned out, it was one of the two weeks that we were traveling and the two weeks that Adam wasn't going to be in Kansas. Great timing, huh?

But, I must say, we had a BLAST! I can hardly wait for next year and am so excited to go again. Karina, my sister-in-law, has the whole "camping system" down pat. She helped this novice camper and get organized with a detailed list of what to bring, how much, menus, what we would be responsible for, etc. I think it was because of that coordination and organization that the trip went off without a hitch.

The kids got along together, played in the ocean for hours and hours and hours on end. The weather was PERFECT and so was the company and memories made. Most importantly, the kids are looking forward to going not only back to the beach, but camping again. Next time, we'll have to make sure that Adam will be joining us for the camp out - beach style.

Week #22 - Sisters - No Greater Bond

Today, is my younger (and littler) sister's birthday. As I look back on my life and think about all of the trouble we caused, havoc we wreaked, I can't help but to smile at some of the things we did.

Growing up, my mom would always ask me, "Janet, where's Mindy? Go find her!" It use to bug me as I seemed to be the one who was "responsible" for her and her whereabouts. But, really, I loved that people saw me and her together. Because it really was that way (or I like to remember it that way at least), wherever I was, she was there. Wherever she was, I was there. We were inseperable. It was great.

As we have grown up and are now married with kids of our own, sometimes I miss those days. I miss her terribly as she lives 2 states away and a solid 2 day drive to boot. I anticipate and look forward to the each summer when we load up the car and drive to Hailey, Idaho and spend those days with her. Yes, we talk on the phone at least 4 days a week, but there is something completely different than being there with her that makes me long for the days of being "the little girls" again.

I am excited to go see her again this year and to catch up with her. She's not just my sister, she is my friend, one of my best friends. I've often thought (and have even told her) that she may be my younger sister in this life - she's 20 months younger than me - but, in reality, she is my older wiser sister. Mindy has a unique knack for being able to comfort me when I'm emotional and to analyze things on the fly and with great precision. Through this analysis, she can calm me down and can help me to see things from a greater, better, and clearer prespective. We always have fun together, whether we are on the phone for hours on end, a 5 minute phone call, or the long summer days of the time that we get to share while we are together. Mindy is thoughtful, creative, strong, sharp-witted, funny, caring, a great mother, a wonderful friend, and an amazing sister.

So, on this day especially, and for this week, I am grateful for my sisters because there is no greater bond in a sibling relationship than that of two (or more) sisters. Love you, Mind! Happy Birthday!

Week #21 - Extra Days & Memories Made

I am grateful this week not necessarily for the extra day (although I am grateful for that) but that we got to spend together as a family, but also for the meaning behind the extra day we had.

I am so grateful for the men and women who have served this country and who have paid the ultimate price and sacrificed their lives to defend her. I am even more grateful for their families who let their sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, etc. serve this country and for the freedoms and liberties they defended in doing so.

The loved ones that have gone on and that I remembered this past week, I am grateful to know that one day I will be reunited with them. I don't want that day to come too quickly, because I have lots to do here on this Earth and lots that I want to be a part of on this Earth. But I am excited to know the truth that I will, one day, see them again.

I am grateful that Adam didn't have to travel to Kansas this week and we got one more extra day and memories made with the best husband and dad in the world.

Week #20 - The Littlest Munchkin

Howie turned 2 on the 21st of May - where has my tiny baby gone? He's been toddling around here for months now and I can't believe he's 2.

About 3 years ago, Adam and I were on the back patio watching the kids play around us. I looked at Adam and asked him if he could be done having kids right now. He turned to me and said, "Could I be done? Yeah, I could be." I remember gasping and being totally taken aback by the response. I told him there was no way I was done having kids and proceeded to tell him we needed to have another one. It took a couple months of convincing him and it's a good thing it didn't take longer than that. With the struggles we had with infertility, we had to start right away with jumping through the hoops again to see if I could get pregnant.

Hoop after hoop, procedure after procedure, drug after drug, injection after injection one good "forced ovulation" and POW - I was pregnant! I was having baby number three. You see, I have a helluva time getting pregnant. But, once I get pregnant, I don't want to give up that pregnancy. I don't go into labor, which is why I ended up with 3 c-sections. Go figure, huh?

Boy am I glad this little guy came to our family.

Howie is such a character. He's silly, sassy, and an absolute JOY to have in our family. More often than not, he makes me laugh with his little antics throughout the day. He, like both of the other two kids, bring me such joy as a mother. He can be his own special kind of trouble - the mischevious kind of trouble, but is so cute, you can't help but to smile or laugh at him when you do, on the many occasions, find him doing something he shouldn't be doing.



I am proud to be this little boy's mom. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this boy, but not want the future to come too quickly. I am enjoying the littlest munchkin and wish most days he'd stay this little.

Week #19 - Eternal Bliss

It's ironic that on the 19th week of this "challenge" falls the 19th of May. You see, 10 years ago Adam and I were married in the LA Temple. It was a great day, filled with "stories", love, the Spirit, family, friends, food and wonderful feelings. Ya know the kind of feelings I'm talking about....eternal bliss.

I remember talking with Adam one night before we were married. I was telling him how much "fun" it was going to be married. He looked at me and with a deadpan face said, "You know, being married isn't the fairy tale you see in the movies. It's not like Cinderella or anything like that." I recall the feeling of being defeated and then thinking in my head, "Whatever. OUR marriage is going to totally be a fairy tale." We were young, in love and had the world at our feet. I couldn't wait to have this fairy tale begin!

Well, as the years have gone on, he's been more correct about that dose of reality he so freely gave me than I'd care to admit to him. It has been 10 wonderful years with the perfect man for me. The years of marriage have not been perfect but, then again, neither are we. We have had plenty of downs and lots more ups. We've had our struggles, our disagreements, and our fair share of frustrations. But, we've had more happy times, silly times, fun times, times of not being able to imagine what life would be like without the other person there that has made the last 10 years such a joy to be married.

Is there still the eternal bliss? You betcha! It's changed, evolved, ebbed and flowed into something that is deeper, more meaningful and more passionate than any fairy tale or what Cinderella could ever have. That's a good thing - our eternal bliss is it's own kind of fairy tale.

Our Own Little Twinkle Toes

Caroline has always enjoyed dancing. I've signed her up for the town's dance classes before and she's loved it. With a gal in our ward teaching dance I thought I would give it a try to see how well, or not so well, Caroline would do before spending the big bucks to take her to a "real" dance studio. "Miss Liz" teaches dance out of her home that is less than 2 miles from our home. It was impossible to not give it a try, if for nothing else the convenience factor alone made it more than worth it.

Having a little girl who wants to dance is kind of hard for me to accept. Not that I don't think she could do it, but I always imagined a little girl going out and playing sports, like me. Not dancing, heaven forbid. I want the "feminine tomboy" not the prissy dancer. Maybe there is a world that will allow her to be the dancing tomboy. Heaven knows it would do my heart good.

Every Monday afternoon I would take Caroline to Miss Liz's house where she and several other darling little girls, would tap and ballet their little hearts out until it was time for me to come get her. All of this dancing effort lead to her recital that was held today. Caroline looked super cute in the costumes that were for her class. One of the moms made the aprons for each girl that they used to the song "Hey Good Lookin' ". The other song they danced to was "On the Good Ship". The girls did a lot of work (or was it play time.....?) in order to prepare for the recital.

I couldn't resist the urge to buy the pink foam rollers to see if they would work in Caroline's hair or not. THEY DID! We all know she doesn't have the thickest hair or much hair for that matter - but they totally worked and her hair was the curliest I think I will ever see it. Hopefully she'll like it well enough to want to wear it curly more often, especially since it was super easy to do.

If I can manage to figure out how to post some video from the performance, I'll put it on. For now and until then, the pics below will have to do of our own little twinkle toes.

Winner By TKO!!!

The stomach bug that laid me on my behind last weekend, seems to have gone through this family for a few more rounds.

Owen came in my bathroom last Saturday morning, early since it was Father's & Son's campout - like 9:30 early - and said, "hi, mom we're home!"

My reply was "What are you doing home?"
Owen "I got sick. I threw up outside the tent."

Wonderful! At least he made it outside the tent, right? Adam came in shortly after that and said he wasn't feeling all that great either. Fabulous!

Howie was still on the mend, Owen was now throwing up, Adam has the chills and body aches, I've got tummy trouble too.

I declared last Sunday a "family sick day" and kept all of us home from church. I figured no one else would want or need to get this virus and, frankly, I wasn't in the mood. I was D-O-N-E DONE!

Adam flew off to Kansas that night and I braced myself for some serious lack of sleep. Much to my surprise, nothing really happened until the morning. Owen seemed to be fine and didn't complain of stomach hurting or anything. Weird! Then it came back with a vengeance.

Tuesday morning, as I'm getting ready for the gym and feeding the kids breakfast, Owen proceeds to throw up all over the kitchen table. If there's one bodily fluid I can't deal with, it's throw-up. I get that cleaned up, check Owen's temp and low and behold, fever and now he's complaining that his legs are "sore". Great - the body aches. Needless to say, other than Howie's swim lesson, we didn't go anywhere nor did I get anything done on my to-do list.

Wednesday was a repeat of Tuesday. Thursday was Caroline's preschool graduation and previous plans to go to the "blue and yellow store"; i.e., Ikea. I needed to go desperately and figured I'd just keep Owen with me rather than send him in the "Smaland" to play with Caroline and his cousin.

He brought his "burp bucket" with him into the store and off we went. He did really well and didn't lose his cookies once, thank heavens. He seemed to perk up a little bit as the day carried on, plus I got something accomplished on my to-do list for the week. As far as I was concerned, it was a win-win situation.

After being "burp" free and other issues free for 24hours, he headed off to his own preschool splash party. He had fun and seems to have returned to his usual self, for which I am grateful.

But, I must say, I declared this nasty stomach bug going around winner by TKO in our family. Hopefully, you can avoid it all together and don't have to go even 1 round with it. But, if you do, prepare yourself to declare it winner by TKO also. Just sayin.......

Week #18 - Refuge of Home

It was a doozy of a week. Doctor appointments, lab appointments, they never seemed to end. It's one reason why I loved coming back home to the refuge of our house. The feeling that I got each time I walked in the door, was one of belonging, peace, and safety. It didn't matter what was happening outside, I felt safe even just pulling around the corner to see our home. It's almost like the saying, "Home Sweet Home" was put into my heart and it was tangible to my heart.

The contentment I'm sure had a lot to do with the fact that Adam was home this past week. It's amazing to me how a week can seem so long and how quickly the comfort of our routine can fall back into place when he's home. I'm not looking forward to him leaving. I don't like it when he's gone. The feeling of peace and safety seem to disappear when he's gone. Regardless, Thursday will be a great day, Adam will be home that day and....it's a special day...FOR US!!!

Round 2 or is it 3?

Took Howie back to the pediatrician today. His tummy still isn't right from last weekend. Wait, I mean, it got slightly better and then back to the not-so-normal-normal he's been experiencing lately.

Great! I think it's a virus that is going around and he was just fortunate to get it before (or was it during or after) his hospital stay. Regardless, his tummy just ain't right. Round 2? He was suppose to go with Adam and Owen on the Fathers and Sons campout. He would have had a blast. Instead, I'm getting hit with the explosions and blasts. Who knew such a little boy could have such reactions. WHOA! Now, I get to stay home and help him complete and hopefully pass his stool study - GROSSSS! - just to make sure there isn't a bigger problem than just this mere virus going around.

Howie was so kind to pass this bug on to me. Sweeeeeet - thanks buddy! But really, could have done without it. Instead of painting my office, finishing the organizing, spending some much needed mommy-daughter time and spoiling the precious little girl rotten, I'm becoming well acquainted with my porcelain throne and trust me when I say, it is NOT spoiling me rotten. I wish we weren't so close right now.

Whether it is round 2 or 3, I am certainly hoping this family doesn't go a full ten rounds with this virus it is a terrible one. I'm hoping all of us will be feeling better, MUCH BETTER, by tomorrow and that a weekend and its plans can be salvaged.

It's Like De Ja Vu All Over Again

It was last Thursday night when it all started. The writhing in pain, the screaming and crying, the not being able to sleep, the "what-on-earth-is-going-on-here" thought; the "Do I call my dad and wake him up in the middle of the night?"; the "what if it's nothing?" then, the "this can't be nothing, something is seriously wrong."

And it was, this time with Howie.

Howie has night terrors. He was running around Thursday night, like he usually does laughing, goofing, just plain being silly. He ran into me in the bedroom (I was back early from school, another post for another time) to give me a kiss goodnight. Off to bed he went.

Around 9:30 was the first scream. I went in to soothe him back to sleep and sure enough, he fell right back to sleep. At 10:15 came the second scream, 11:45 was the third; 12:30 was the fourth (I lost count after that). After the third scream I became suspicious that this night was going to be something more than just the usual night terror night. Usually if it is a case of the night terrors, he'll scream out the first time around 11:30, the second time around 2:30 and the third time around 5:30. I just had a "hunch" that this was different and there wasn't something quite right.

On the fourth scream, I told Adam to bring Howie into our bed - I didn't want to have to keep getting up to soothe him every 45 minutes or so the entire night. This turned out to be one of the WORST nights of sleep I have ever gotten in my life. No pregnancy, no final trimester, no recovering from a c-section, no newborn was ever as bad as this night. Howie continued to thrash, writhe in pain, scream, cry, and take up an entire king size bed (I slept on less than 8" of the bed ALL NIGHT LONG). As if I needed an alarm clock, I got up around 630 to call my dad and ask him the signs of a kidney infection, urinary tract infection, appendicitis, etc. He told me the signs to look for and suggested that if it continues that I needed to get Howie into see the doctor. Howie then proceeded to throw up in bed around 715 (great, huh?) I got up and showered, just on the off chance that I needed to take him into the doctor.

Still the nagging thought of something just wasn't right, didn't and wouldn't leave me alone. At 8 o'clock on the dot I called the pediatricians office. The only thing they had with his regular doctor was a 945, 1045 or 1115. None of those times would work. I had an appointment with my doctor at 950, I had to pick up preschoolers at 11. I asked for a different doctor and got in at 830.

When we arrived, Howie was acting his usually cute self and looking at the "fooshies" (fish) in the tank. We got called back and that's when things proceeded to go south, if you will. I explained the symptoms and concerns to the doctor. She examined him and said definitely not a kidney, urinary tract or other infection. Fabulous! Not so fast. Instead, she looked at me and said, "I'm highly suspicious of an intussusception."

ARE YOU FOR REAL?! Tell me you're kidding, right? No siree, not at all. She did a rectal exam on the poor guy and determined that there was in fact blood in Howie's stool and then we proceeded to have the following conversation:


Dr. C: "I am pretty sure Howie has an intussusception. That is when the - "
Me: "Dr. C. we are all too aware of what that is. You see my husband had this happen to him almost 2 years ago, when Howie was just 3 1/2 months old."
Dr.C: "Really?!"
Me: "Yep, really."
Dr.C.: "Well, you need to go immediately to Carden Children's Hospital. I will call them now and tell them you are coming. By the time you get there they will be expecting you."
Me: "Okay. Thank you."

Fearing the worst and dreading that Howie was going to have to go through what Adam went through, I whisked Howie out of the office, called Adam on the way home to tell him the news, called my dad to update him, and began calling friends and neighbors to see if they could take the remaining two kids whilst we figured out what was wrong with Howie. I got home and Adam took Howie to the hospital. I got Caroline situated and then proceeded to go to my own appointment, which was in desperate need for me.

I met Adam and Howie at the hospital where Howie hadn't once writhed in pain or even flinched. I thought it was going to be a false alarm and we'd be sent home that day. When the ER doctor came into the room, Howie was bouncing on his knees while holding onto the rail of the bed. As I was talking to the ER doctor, Adam was telling Howie to not do that anymore because he was going to get hurt. Howie was turning around to look at Adam, lost his balance and then proceeded to knock his mouth against the rail, gave a good bump to his tooth to knock it loose and scrape his chin. Well, at least we were in the right place for that to happen!

The ER doctor talked to us and we explained our history of this possible diagnosis with him and told him that we wanted an ultrasound as well. He was more than happy to oblige us and ordered both tests to be done. The xray didn't show a whole lot, other than some big gas bubbles that were trapped. The ultrasound on the other hand, well that showed that Howie did indeed have an intussusception. I couldn't believe it. It's not common for adults to get it, but Adam did. And although it is fairly common in little boys between the ages of 10-24 months, what was the chance that our son, after Adam had his episode, would experience the EXACT SAME THING. C'mon really? It's like it's de ja vu all over again.

The radiologist did a gastrograph on Howie (a Barium enema with contrast die), to make sure that she was getting the intussusception reduced. She used 5 12 oz. bottles on the poor tyke. The pressure and fluid that was used was enough to reduce the problem and enough so that the entire 2nd flood could hear poor Howie screaming with this procedure being done. All in all it was a success, which meant no surgery. On the other hand, the chance of it happening again within the first 24hrs of reducing it was great. Which meant, Howie was going to be admitted for an overnight stay.

We got checked-in at the ER at around 945, by the time Howie was up to his room was 830. He slept maybe 1.5 hours all day long and with the sleepless night the night before that he had one would think that maybe he would crash right out once on the floor. WRONG! He was awake until about 1015. Then he crashed. The nurses would come in and monitor his vitals with the lights on, he didn't flinch. He was out!

Adam and I traded places once more. I slept at the hospital and Adam came home to be with the kids. As we waited for the pediatric surgeon to discharge Howie (the oncall pediatrician had already given us the okay to leave - one foot out the door!) he started to grimace in pain again. I immediately called the nurse to have the pediatrician come back into our room. I explained what he was doing and she ordered an xray for Howie. It was shortly after the xray was taken that I knew what was causing Howie so much pain.

The little stinker (pun intended) proceeded to let out the biggest toot I have EVER HEARD come out of a little boy. I couldn't believe it. When his nurse came back from lunch, not expecting to still see us there, she came into the room to find out what was going on. I explained to her what happened and then, well Howie obliged her with another round of ginormous flatulence that even the nurse was taken aback by. Sweet, huh?! I called Adam and for the last time, we traded places again.

This time, I was greeted at home by my own mom and dad whom had come over for the weekend. It was good to see them and I was grateful my dad could be here to help me understand what was happening and explain things further to me. We watched Howie and when I had questions about his behavior, my dad was right there to answer them. No phone calls this time, just a turn of the head and a question asked and answered immediately. It was an INCREDIBLE comfort to have him there.

Finally, I got a text from Adam about 330 that said they were just waiting for paperwork and they would be on their way home. Waaaaaawhooooooo! My baby would be home and not have to spend another night in the hospital. That was the best news I had heard all day.

So, now we deal with some of the side effects of the procedure, the bonked tooth and sore mouth, and wait and watch to see what happens next. If some of the side effects don't clear up by Friday, he'll be back to the pediatrician (he was just there today for a follow-up visit post hospitalization) to have further testing done. I am mindful and hopeful that everything will be better and that nothing more will need to be done.

I still can't believe the chances of this happening to two different people in the same family just under 2 years apart. The chances have to slim. It is definitely a de ja vu all over again. Let's just hope there isn't a "three times a charm" in the family!

Week #17 - Mothers

I am so grateful for my mother. She is such an inspiration to me. Quite often I stop to think of all that she has accomplished in her life. A convert to the church, she was a pioneer in her family with the Gospel. No other family members joined the church, but she was an example to them of how to live according to the Gospel. She moved to Hawaii not knowing a soul, but needing a change in her life. It was there that she met my dad and joined the church. She had 5 children in 7 years, moved 13 times in the first 13 years of marriage, supported my father through medical school, helped my dad start his own practice, still works in my dad's office (it was suppose to be "temporary" - going on almost 27 years now!) and has seen all 5 of us get married in the temple to our eternal companions, and now is a grandmother to 16 grandkids!

There are so many reasons why I am grateful to have my mother be a friend in my life. She means a lot to me. I can't imagine the day where I don't have her with me in this life anymore. I don't like to think of that day. So, I enjoy each and every telephone conversation I have with her each day, whether it is 2 minutes or 20 minutes. I love it!

I am also grateful to my Heavenly Father for my three children that have made me a mother. They are each so special and unique. They bring with them their own inherit challenges in raising them. But to have a day without their laughter, smiles, hugs, kisses, and snuggles would be a day that is less than perfect. I could do without the fighting, screaming, yelling, teasing, and so on. But, without all of it, I wouldn't be a mother.

Week #16 - The 'Ole Bod, Regardless of Blob Factor

I'm almost done with school. I can hardly wait - time to do some serious organizing around the house, paint a few craft projects, and organize and put together my office/craft room, finish projects that have been put way too far on the back burner, read books - like novel books - that I want to read, not necessarily HAVE TO read. I am thrilled with excitement about finishing school in just a few short days, like 5 to be exact!

This is the second semester that I have taken Anatomy and Physiology. It has been so much fun to learn about the 'ole bod!! I am by no means in any miraculous shape (blob doesn't really count) and I'm not quite so round any more. Regardless, as I have learned about the human body, there is one thing that has happened that has become so profound to me - the human body is no accident. It is a divinely inspired creation of God. There are no accidents in the design of the human body.

I am amazed time and time again with each section I have studied how marvelous the human body is. It isn't just skin, bones, muscles, organs. It is a machine - literally - down to every last cell in our bodies. There are so many checks and balances and safety features in the body that it is impossible to say it was not created by a Divine Being.

I am grateful for the knowledge that I have that my body is designed and created in HIS image. We are stewards of our body and are to take care of it, nourish it, exercise it, use it to it's ability, rest it. It is also comforting to know that because we are created in HIS image, the tears I shed, the hairs that fall from my head, the angst in my heart, or the worry in my head has all been felt before by my Savior, Jesus Christ, who too is created in HIS image.

If the 'ole bod was good enough for my Savior, it certainly is beyond good enough for me, regardless of the blob factor.